THE PENCIL AND THE BIBLE

 

I am going to talk about the Pencil and the bible. We are going to study the pencil and how it is like us. Also the need for daily bible reading. I call the Bible GOD’S instruction manual for life. It is the single most important book, it was a gift to us from GOD!

(Hand out pencils)

Our scriptures for this lesson comes from 2nd timothy 3:14-17:

  1. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it,

  2. And how from childhood you have known the sacred writing that is able to instruct for your salvation through faith in CHRIST JESUS.

  3. All scripture is inspired by GOD and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.

  4. So that everyone who belongs to GOD may be proficient, equipped for every good Work.

 

  Ok, does everyone have a pencil? I want you to hold your pencil in your hand during our time together.

 

 

         So let’s look at your pencil.

  1. You will notice the pencil comes in many different colors, sizes, and shapes!

  2. Think about GOD creating this world. GOD created all the animals, reptiles, birds, fishes. GOD made them all different. All have the same parts, hearts, lungs, digestive system, muscles, skin, blood, bones, kidney, and Liver. God made different species, each different. Each individual animal is different from all others. But all the same, yet uniquely different, God never duplicates an individual life. What was GOD thinking when he created animals like the elephants, giraffes, duckbill platypus!

  3. We, humans, are all the same. We have all the same parts. But we are all different. We come in all different colors, sizes, and shapes. We are all the same, yet uniquely different. There is only one you and there never be another you!

  4. God’s creativity and intelligence are Awesome. How do you make so many things the same, yet different?

  5. Let’s look at the different parts of a pencil.

  6. The body is made of wood. The paint is a protective coating. Just like our skin. The paint and the wooden body will deteriorate over time. Leaving the lead core.

  7. Lead or graphite is the core of the pencil. Our core is our soul. When we die our bodies will decay leaving only our soul, the choice of where your soul spends eternity is yours to make!

  8. Eraser was made to correct mistakes. Leaving no evidence of the mistake. To use the eraser we must stop writing, turn the pencil around and erase the mistake.

  9. In the O/T the word repent means: to turn around, change direction, and seek forgiveness from GOD and to erase our sins-leaving no evidence of it.

 

        l.  Guess what the pencil cannot fulfill its purpose unless it is sharpened.

 

  1. To sharpen your pencil you need a pencil sharpener or a sharp knife. It takes effort on our part to sharpen and to keep it sharp.

  2. So it is with us. We need our pencils sharpened! How do we do that? As a child, our parents were our teachers. They teach us to walk, talk, and eat and many basic skills. They are sharpening our pencils as they teach us.

  3. The book of Proverbs was written by Solomon, reported to be the wisest man to ever live. In the first chapter, he tells why he wrote the book of Proverbs. Proverbs 1:2-9 gives us as parents the reason for reading Proverbs and the bible:

                                  PROVERBS 1:2-9

  1. for learning about wisdom and instruction, for understanding words of insight,

  2. for gaining instruction in wise dealing, righteousness, justice, and equity;

  3. To teach shrewdness to the simple, knowledge and prudence to the young.

  4. let the wise also hear and gain in learning, and the discerning acquire skill,

  5. To understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles.

  6. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and knowledge.

  7. Hear, my child your father’s instruction, and do not reject your mother’s teaching;

  8. For they are a fair garland for your head, and a pendant for your neck.

 

            ll. How do we sharpen our children’s pencils?

  1. as parents, we need to teach our children about God, introduce them to GOD and the Bible, read to them stories from the bible.

  2. take them to church, attend Sunday school ( if available) and be active in the church. Be aware example is one of the best teachers. A child has to be taught to do right, they know how to do wrong!

  3. Never miss the opportunity to plant the seeds of JESUS in your child. It is the only chance to teach them about GOD before the world starts sowing weed seeds.

  4. Children need to be taught worldly wisdom— reading, writing, and arithmetic. They need to learn a trade or continue in college to learn a profession.

  5. To sharpen a child’s pencil is a tremendous responsibility. With GOD’S help, you can do it!

 

        III. As adults how do we sharpen our pencils and keep them sharp!

 

  1. Not much different than that for children.

  2. Attend church! Get involved, there are many ways to serve GOD. Just ask your pastor privately “what can I do to help, what needs to be done, I would like to volunteer!”

  3. Attend Sunday school (if offered) Volunteer to start a Sunday school! Set an example for the children, show them what is important!!

  4. Daily prayer, seeking GOD. GOD wants a close personal relationship with you, but you have to talk to HIM! Friendship is a two-way street, and yes GOD wants you as a friend!

  5. This is the single most important thing you can do to sharpen your pencil and keep it sharp!

 

             Read       your       BIBLE !!         I encourage everyone to form a habit of reading through the BIBLE every Year. I know, that sounds like a lot of reading, it takes around 20 minutes a day to read through the BIBLE in a year.  I have a copy of a schedule to read thru the BIBLE in a year if anyone wants one to see me after the service.

  1. Some people tell me “I would read the BIBLE, but I don’t understand half of what I read.” Remember Matthew 7:7-8;

  2. Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.

  3. for everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

  4. In your daily prayers ASK GOD to give you understanding as you read the BIBLE. The BIBLE is the greatest book ever written. If you only read one book make it the BIBLE. GOD’S instruction manual for life.

      When I finish a lesson I ask myself, so what!

    This lesson is about the pencil and the BIBLE, how to sharpen and keeping it sharp. It’s about life and the choices we face daily. GOD will never make a choice for you, He will offer to teach and guide you, but the choice remains for you to make. Remember;

              Life is a personal gift from GOD to you! Cherish it always! You need to take care of your earthly life like you borrowed it from GOD. Live every day for GOD and GOD alone! Some day you will have to return your life to GOD, and answer to GOD for what you have done with it!